While the tennis world counts down to his highly anticipated return to competitive action, Roger Federer has sent a message out to his fans before boarding the flight to Dubai.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion has been out of action since undergoing second knee surgery after last year’s Australian Open and will make his comeback at the ATP Doha event later this month.

“Very excited”: Federer on his return to action

In a short video message, which he shared on his social media handles before flying out to the Emirates, a masked-up Federer begins by saying, “So, here we are, about to take off, flight to Doha.”

This is clearly the longest spell in the sidelines for the Swiss champion and he acknowledged as much.

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He goes on to add that it’s been a long and hard road to fitness and now that he is close to the “finish line”, he can’t be more “excited”.

“It’s been a year since my last travel to any event and I could tell you I’m very excited,” Federer is heard saying in the video.

The former World Number 1 also thanked his fitness and medical teams who spent tireless hours to get him back in shape for competition.

Roger Federer thanks “all the people who made it possible”

After taking a moment to thank “all the people who made it possible”, Federer said he was happy how he slowly moved through the gears in his battle to regain full fitness.

“It’s good, you know. (I) feel like I am in a good place, been practicing very well and just really pumped up,” the champion said, signaling his readiness to jump into competitive action again.

Extending his break post surgery last year, Federer announced his withdrawal from this year’s Australian Open, the first time he did so since he started playing Grand Slams.

At an awards night back home towards the close of 2020, the Swiss had hinted as much, saying he was still short of where needed to be in terms of fitness and was in a “race against time” .

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However, amid questions around his future, the Swiss issued a statement earlier this year saying he would be back in action at ATP Doha.